The Peasant and the Apple Tree By Aesop

The Peasant and the Apple Tree by Aesop for ESL students with a video, list of vocabulary in context, and questions for discussion

The Peasant and the Apple Tree is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project.

Video of the Peasant and the Apple Tree

The Peasant and the Apple Tree

A peasant had an apple-tree growing in his garden, which bore no fruit, but merely served to provide a shelter from the heat for the sparrows and grasshoppers which sat and chirped in its branches.

Disappointed at its barrenness, he determined to cut it down, and went and fetched his axe for the purpose. But when the sparrows and the grasshoppers saw what he was about to do, they begged him to spare it, and said to him, “If you destroy the tree, we shall have to seek shelter elsewhere, and you will no longer have our merry chirping to enliven your work in the garden.”

He, however, refused to listen to them, and set to work with a will to cut through the trunk. A few strokes showed that it was hollow inside and contained a swarm of bees and a large store of honey. Delighted with his find, he threw down his axe, saying, “The old tree is worth keeping after all.”

English proverbs from the short story

Utility is most men’s test of worth.

Don’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

This proverb directly relates to the short-sightedness of the peasant. It warns against destroying something that provides ongoing value, even if the immediate benefit seems insignificant.

Look before you leap.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of considering all the potential consequences before taking action. In the fable, the peasant focused only on the lack of fruit and didn’t consider the hidden value of the tree.

You can’t see the forest for the trees.

This proverb highlights the danger of getting too focused on the immediate details and missing the bigger picture. The peasant only saw the barren tree, neglecting the potential benefits it offered like shade or a home for helpful creatures.

A stitch in time saves nine.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of addressing problems early on before they become bigger issues. The peasant could have cared for the tree to improve its fruit production instead of resorting to cutting it down.

Vocabulary in real context

1. peasant: rural person, poor farmer
2. merely: only, simply
3. chirp: to sing delightfully
4. barren: infertile, unproductive
5. fetch: to go and get something
6. merry: happy
7. enliven: invigorate, cheer up
8. trunk: the main stem of a tree
9. stroke: blow
10. swarm: group of insects

Questions for discussion

1. Why was the peasant angry with the apple tree?
2. What did the sparrows and grasshoppers offer the peasant in exchange for keeping the tree?
3. What lesson do you think the fable teaches about short-sightedness or valuing something beyond its immediate use?